President Obama continues down his path to yes today. But, he can still say no, and he can still delay. The regulatory review process has at least four more months. If Obama says no, he needs to say it quickly or wait until after the midterm elections, when his party's control of the Senate is at risk.

Is this the beginning of the end for Keystone's regulatory purgatory, or is another Groundhog Day around the corner?

Our take: The U.N. chief is stepping up efforts to prevent fractious international global warming talks from going off the rails, but it remains to be seen whether, as negotiators hope, a final global climate accord can be reached in 2015.

KEYSTONE PIPELINE INCHES TOWARD GREEN LIGHT. The State Department said Friday that the proposed pipeline would not lead to a surge in greenhouse gas emissions, a finding that brings it closer to approval but doesn't end the intense lobbying fight over the project.

WHITE HOUSE TO NOMINATE NORMAN BAY TO HEAD FERC. Obama is planning to nominate the current director of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Office of Enforcement to fill the post vacated by former chairman Jon Wellinghoff.

HOUSE WATER BILL ON TRACK FOR A VOTE. Legislation introduced by the California Republican delegation in the House this week aimed at curing the state's water shortage hits the floor next week.

HOUSE DEMS URGE EPA TO FINALIZE MOTOR VEHICLE STANDARDS. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and 40 other members of the House called on the agency to move quickly to finalize its Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards program.

PRICE OF OIL FALLS AT WEEK'S END. Oil prices dipped below $98 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after a high of $98.23 seen earlier this week.

YOUR TAKE...

POLL: MAJORITY SUPPORT LIFTING THE BAN ON CRUDE-OIL EXPORTS. In National Journal's first energy poll—launched right here on Thursday—almost two-thirds of Energy Edge readers supported lifting the U.S. ban on exporting crude oil in some way. Roughly 45 percent said they support lifting the ban entirely, and another 20 percent said they would support some easement (though not lifting the ban entirely). Twenty-nine percent opposed lifting the ban and 6 percent were undecided. We'll do another poll next week!

WHAT INSIDERS ARE SAYING…

Next week's National Journal'sEnergy & Environment Expert Insiders discussion will look at President Obama's support for natural gas. In his State of the Union speech last week, Obama doubled down on his support for natural gas, calling it "the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less carbon pollution that causes climate change." Is that the right decision?